Mayor Begins Independent Bid For House Of Delegates

April 19, 2009|By Jon Cawley, jcawley@dailypress.com 247-4635

POQUOSON — Miffed by a perceived snub from the local Republican leadership, Poquoson Mayor Gordon Helsel has decided to ditch his plan to seek that party's nomination for the 91st District House of Delegates seat in the November election and instead run as an independent candidate.

Helsel said that in the 50 or so days since he announced his intention to challenge incumbent Tom Gear for the Republican nomination, Poquoson Republican Party Chairman John Anderson has failed to take his phone calls or respond to registered letters requesting information on the rules for a "firehouse" primary that Gear requested.

Helsel called it "an intentional lack of communication" that amounted to "incumbent protection."

"This reeks of good ol' boy, back-room politics," Helsel said.

Anderson countered that he wasn't ducking Helsel and had instead been busy with work and his daughter's wedding and hadn't spoken with any candidate about the contest.

"It's a bit disingenuous," Anderson said of Helsel's claim. "Perhaps running as an independent or a Democrat is the way for him to go. He never did anything to make us think he's a Republican."

Helsel's decision to run as an independent against Gear has both advantages and disadvantages.

By removing himself from an insider tug-of-war, Helsel eliminates the possibility of being knocked out of the race prematurely during a small mass meeting. Helsel probably would have benefited from a primary where he could have wooed middle-of-the-road voters and Republicans less than enamored with Gear.

But in an overwhelmingly Republican district, Helsel's decision to wait for the general election campaign has significant drawbacks, too.

Helsel will have to work hard to convince some conservatives to vote for an independent candidate - especially with Republicans and Democrats battling for the governor's mansion.

Further, Democrats are fielding a challenger and the looming three-man race could water down Helsel's support, split the anti-Gear vote and allow the incumbent to slide back into office with less than 50 percent of the vote.

When contacted, Gear said he was unaware of the rub between Helsel and Anderson. It was Helsel, not Gear, who was being aided by a "good ol' boy network," he said.

"It'll be an exciting election with the amount of money he'll get from the good ol' boys - he'll probably outspend me," Gear said. "I wouldn't be surprised to come out as the underdog in this race."

Staff writer Kimball Payne contributed to this story.

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